Retro Bike-packing!

They say it is best to not to carry any weight on your back so you won't get a sore backside. This is one way to solve that problem — in Lumsden, New Zealand.

One for the bike aficionados, a 1989 Stumpy in original spec, including the bio-pace chainrings! — in Lumsden, New Zealand.

 

One for the bike aficionados, a 1989 Stumpy in original spec, including the bio-pace chainrings! — in Lumsden, New Zealand

Afternoon Text Messages, more wind!

A very warm afternoon for most and the wind still persists. Very strong and gusty in places and if you have the misfortune of heading north it is a big headwind!

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 14:04
Subject: SMS with Martin Strelka

Ranfurly. Anyone said headwind? Thankfully my wind scale changed yesterday on old man range so it just moderately annoying headwind today. And about 30C with nowhere to hide. Martin Strelka

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 14:19
Subject: SMS with Rob Dawson
Bannockburn...hot, but all good. Mt Pisa AWESOME !!!

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 14:20
Subject: SMS with Richard Lindsay
Richard L. Bannockburn. Pisa Range was a piece of pissa.

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 14:46
Subject: SMS with Cliff Clermont
Cliff on his reroute in Tekapo. Lovely headwind. Keep me live. I'll be back.

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 15:19
Subject: SMS with David Moss
Arrived Lumsden. Incredibly gusty

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 15:20
Subject: SMS with Martin Strelka
Naseby forest closed. Taking road to village. Now it's windy. Martin Strelka

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 16:14
Subject: SMS with John Adam
John dean pascal
Garston

Preparations and departure, which way are we riding again?

Preparations for departure, outside the 4Square in Lumsden. After raiding the shelves, eating as much as they can, it is time to squeeze the rest in somewhere on the bike.

Back on the bike for a quick 57 kms to Waikaia. Would help if they went in the right direction

Replenish and restock

Civilisation again, means food again! Time to replenish the energy levels and restock with supplies

George looks shattered? And only after eating half a meat pie at the Garsten Hotel. Think it might be the heat and the wind, and a little 80 kms though the Nevis

 

Bill Brierley seeking a little shade after the heat of the Nevis Valley

Anyone tell me the model of rotor by the tattoo on Bill Brierley's leg? — at Garsten.

Andrew Scott shopping in Lumdsen. He is looking at the hardware section and just past the wine section. What sort of food would he be stocking up on?

Oh, that's much better Andrew Scott, Chocolate milk, a tomato and a carrot! That should be good for another 80 kms on the bike today. — in Lumsden, New Zealand.

Nathan Mawkes restocking. The basket has room for more Nathan. — with Nathan Mawkes in Lumsden, New Zealand.

Jeremy forgot his re-usable bag again.

Nathan Mawkes emptying his basket after filling it :-)

So Andrew Scott, asks Craig, what exactly do I do with this while I am riding my bike? Apparently carrots are now the "go-to" food for endurance cycling. You learn something new everyday! — in Lumsden, New Zealand.

JRA (Just riding along)

JRA (just riding along), nothing but blue sky, gravel and plenty of speargrass. Oops, and a water hazard or two.

Day 4 Morning Text Messages

Alexandra is popular this morning with several riders finally off the Old Man Range and down to the relatively smaller climbs for the remainder of their Great Southern Brevet

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 10:38
Subject: SMS with Rob Davidson

Rob D.. @Alex.. Cheese rolls and iced coffee at the goose👍

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 13:05
Subject: SMS with Phil Petersen
Phil P rolling outta alex. Good kite flying weather up top despite the alpine start. Good fun.

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 13:05
Subject: SMS with Josh Aldridge
Josh in Alex

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 13:05
Subject: SMS with Phil Walter
Alexandra

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 13:05
Subject: SMS with Rachel Berry
Cromwell cream buns after v windy sallys pinch this am

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 13:05
Subject: SMS with Jo Haines
Jo and Rachel - Cromwell bakery after a favourable wind (finally) down The Valley

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 13:05
Subject: SMS with tad mejdr
Alexandra

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 13:05
Subject: SMS with Brendan Pheasant
Lovely morning out of the comparatively windless Nevis Valley. Finally the wind is helpful into Lumsden.

The Nevis Valley

Brilliant day for the Nevis! Touch of wind up Duffers Saddle and then down into the relative shelter of the lower Nevis Valley.

John, Dean and Pascal, time to apply more sunshine, big blue skies are the order of the day — in Nevis, New Zealand.

Hmmm.. 25 stream crossings? It will cool the feet down at least ;-)

Wide open spaces and good gravel, what more could you ask for!

I think that was stream crossing number 3, or was it number 4? Only 22, or 21 to go before the feet will get a real chance to dry out

The lower Nevis Valley gorge on a spectacular day, and cruising along on the Great Southern Brevet 2019

Morning tea break Nevis style. Enjoying a short sit down and time off the bike for our GSB 2019 riders.

And back on the road again, Richard, Alex and Di cruise past some of the many old gold sluicing sites in the Nevis.

Tailwind, headwind? It continues to blow

The wind continues to make its presence known and definitely the emerging theme of the Great Southern Brevet 2019.

Everyone safely over the Pisa Range but seems the wind isn't through making itself a feature of this years brevet

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 00:39
Subject: SMS with Matty Graham

Alex.
Matty

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 07:47
Subject: SMS with Steve Scott
In garston. Steve SCOTT

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 07:49
Subject: SMS with Jake Stow
 Arrived in Galveston. Made it through the nevis in one piece

(Editors Note: Hope Jake isn't in Texas! A little hallucination perhaps or just geographically challenged?)

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 08:02
Subject: SMS with Michael Hoogeveen
 Arrived lumsden.
A nice warm night in the Southland ski lodge.
Hopefully the wind will allow me to get to Alexandra before dark.

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 08:03
Subject: SMS with Keith Payne
Keith Payne leaving Lumsden. Nevis climb was very windy!

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 08:18
Subject: SMS with Matthew Hughes
Mate! Looks like Martin will finish today!? Madness

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 08:31
Subject: SMS with Debbie Chambers
What a day. Great scenery.
Battle of the wind!!!
Safe in lumsden hotel!

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 08:32
Subject: SMS with Debbie Chambers
Sorry had no reception. In waikaia waiting on coffee and eggs

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 08:47
Subject: SMS with Martin Strelka
Middlemarch. Hard riding this am but feeling awesome. Just the home stretch left ;) Martin Strelka

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 08:47
Subject: SMS with Anthony Gray
Tony gray in Lumsden. Wahoo! Absolute gut buster up the Nevis yesterday arvo.

Love it, Hate It, the Pisa Range

Afternoon/evening test messages on Day 3 of the Great Southern Brevet. It appears a love and hate relationship with the Pisa Range still continues.

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 13:09
Subject: SMS with Anthony Gray

Tony gray in Cromwell. Refueling before attacking Nevis. Both arrow and kawarau rivers were great riding alongside.

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 13:24
Subject: SMS with Keith Payne
Keith Payne leaving Cromwell. Very windy and cold over the Pisa range. Dramatic change in temperature dropping 1700m!

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 13:49
Subject: SMS with Michael Hoogeveen
Arrived Cromwell.
Stayed at the cardrona hotel last night, good conditions on Pisa.
Riding bikes is fun😊

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 13:51
Subject: SMS with Josh Aldridge
Josh, Tad and Phil in Lumsden. Still unsure whether we should attempt old mans range after 4pm

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 14:17
Subject: SMS with Jake Stow
Arrived in Cromwell. Happy to be alive after torture on the pisa range. Jake Stow

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 15:25
Subject: SMS with Brendan Pheasant
Made it over the Pisas and into Cromwell without turning my bike into a kite too many times. Brendan

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 15:30
Subject: SMS with Phil Petersen
Phil p in Lumsden. Were did all the hills go?

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 16:30
Subject: SMS with Paul Elby
Paul Elby. Ranfurly all good

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 17:33
Subject: SMS with David Moss
Arrived Cromwell after riding the Alternative. Heading out to Nevis to look for a good camping spot

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 18:10
Subject: SMS with Martin Strelka
Alexandra. That was gnarly. Freeking windy up there. Was blown out to the fence many times. Martin

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 18:58
Subject: SMS with Rob Davidson
Rob D.. Made waikaia.. Happy to be here..

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 20:04
Subject: SMS with Richard MacDonald
Cromwell for the night.

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 20:51
Subject: SMS with Jeremy Barbe
Jeremy Barbe @ Cromwell. Survived the Pisa winds. I'm with craig, Andrew and Nathan

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 21:00
Subject: SMS with John Adam
John dean pascal
cromwell

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 21:00
Subject: SMS with Alex Grigg
Alex and Di in Cromwell via Crown Range pleased took the alternative as we got hammered enough getting over Thomson's yesterday.

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 21:04
Subject: SMS with Bill Brierley
Hi Dave. Just had dinner with the family at the Thai Restaurant 😎 Will push on, but not sure how far. Thanks for reinstating the Pisa.

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 21:15
Subject: SMS with Grant Fraser
Grant at Cromwell.

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 at 21:15
Subject: SMS with George Richardson
Not sure if Cromwell is a txt in... but if it is .. I'm here. George R (giorgio)

Room with a view

Rachel and Jo reach Kirtle Burn Hut high on the Pisa Range. Salubrious accommodation for the evening before an early morning run at Sally's Pinch

Rachel and Jo refilling the water supply from the head of Kirtle Burn (which becomes Roaring Meg Stream at the southern end of the Pisa Range). Cold and clear water for a cup of tea?

More photos up on the Pisa Range

The high point of the Pisa Range crossing in this years Great Southern Brevet. Note the temperature, a balmy 4.7 degrees.

Erosion gullies as the track is straight up hill. Not the best design, someone needs a lesson in hydraulics.

More erosion, bike swallowing stuff

Lake Mackay, just below the high point of the crossing. Notice not much of a ripple on the lake, sheltered from the Westerly.

Even the DOC sign struggles to stay upright on Sallys Pinch on the Pisa Range

Pisa Range Crossing

Nathan and Craig about to finish the adventure on the Pisa Range. Seems it wasn't all bad.

Bill Brierley still smiling, which he should be as one of the people who requested the Pisa Range :-) Seems it was sketchy but worth it.

Dean, Pascal, and John Adams, sorry about the audio, we will still in the wind zone on the Pisa Range

An attempt at filming the crossing of Sallys Pinch on the Pisa Range. Had to stop filming as the bike started on its way to Cromwell! Still very passable but absolutely not riding :-)